Michael hoffman wilson



- H. WILSON.

(No Model.)

SPRING MOTOR.

No. 549,222. Patented Nov. 5', 18-95.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL HOFFMAN WVILSON, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

SPRING-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,222, dated November 5, 1895.

A li atio fil d December 22, 1894. Serial No. 532,645. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LMIOHAEL HOFFMAN WIL- SON, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spring-motors in which the motor-springs are what are known as spiral springs m, that is to say, springs in which the coils progress one from another along their axis.

My invention consists in certain combinations in which springs of this kind constitute elements for the storing up or transmission of power.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a spring-motor embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 represents a plan view corresponding with Fig. 1 of certain details to be hereinafter explained. Fig. 3 rep resents a longitudinal sectional View, on a larger scale,of part of what is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section taken in the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a modification of parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which will be hereinafter explained.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A is a fixed shaft supported and firmly secured at one end in a standard B and supported at the other end in a box C which contains a motor-train.

D D D designate a spiral spring consisting of several spring-sections arranged end to end and connected at their adjacent ends by disks or collars a to co-operate as and be equivalent to a single spring. One end of the said spring is connected at 1), Figs. 1 and 2, with the shaft A in such manner as to be pre vented from turning thereon, and the other end is fastened at f to the motor-wheel E, which is fitted to turn on the shaft A within the box 0. This motor-wheelE is represented as consisting of a spur-gear which forms part of a train within the box 0. The last shaft 0 of the said train carries a pulley d, from which the power is to be given out. As this motortrain and gearing may be varied, it is hardly necessary here to describe it; but it may be stated that it may be such a train as is represented and described in my United States Patent No. 531,607, dated December 25, 1894. It must be provided with a suitable windingshaft for winding the spring.

The disks or collars a, which connect the spring-sections, have in them radial slots a for the reception of the ends h of the springsections, and in this they resemble the disks described in my Patent No. 531,607, hereinabove mentioned; but these disks or collars, instead of being fitted to bearings on the shaft, as described in that patent, are fitted loosely upon sleeves i, which are themselves fitted to turn freely upon the said shaft A. These sleeves resemble the sleeves which are part of the subject-matter of my last-mentioned patent and are collectively of such length that they occupy nearly the whole length of the said shaft.

While the spring is being coiled up by winding and while uncoiling to give out its power, the sleeves 2' serve to prevent the spring from coming in contact with the shaft and being subject to friction thereon, while the collars a,being loose upon the said sleeves, are not only free to turn, but to move lengthwise to accommodate the coiling and uncoiling of the spring.

I have hereinbefore stated that one end of the spring is connected at b with the shaft in such manner as to be prevented from turning thereon; but the connection of this end is such as to permit a certain amount of longi tudinal movement of the spring to compensate for the increase or diminution of the axial length of the spring resulting from its coiling and uncoiling. The provision for this longitudinal movement is represented in Figs. land 2 as consisting of a slot j in the shaft, into whichslot the end I) of the'spring is inserted. The portion of the spring within this slot is represented as fitted with an antifriction-roller k,which runs between the sides of the said slot for the purpose of reducing the friction of the connection.

In Fig. 5 the provision for the longitudinal movement of the end Z2 of the spring is represented as consisting of a sliding collar Z, to which the said end is firmly secured, the said collar being grooved internally to fit longitudinal splines m, which are provided on the shaft and which prevent the collar from turning on the shaft while permitting it to move lengthwise thereof.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a spring motor, the combination of a fixed shaft and a support for the same, a power transmitting wheel loose on said shaft, and a spiral motor spring surrounding the said shaft and having one end fastened to said motor wheel and having its other end connected with said shaft to be incapable of turning thereon but capable of a certain movement lengthwise thereof, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a spring motor, the combination of a shaft and a support for the same, a powertransmitting wheel loose on said shaft, a spiral motor spring which consists of a plusubstantially as herein set forth.

MICHAEL HOFFMAN WILSON. Vitnesscs:

FREDK. HAYNEs, GEORGE BARRY. 

